Posted on: Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween! I will be running around with our pirate princess today wearing this little ASOS number. I love finding dresses that can be worn in different seasons. For fall I am wearing it with tights and boots but when the temperature drops I can add more layers on top. I also want to experiment and try to wear it as a skirt by adding a top and cinching belt. Will have to report later how that turns out.

Posted on: Wednesday, October 30, 2013

To say that I am proud of my mexican roots is the biggest understatement of the year. The next understatement of the year would go to my obsession to all things J.Crew

So imagine my surprise and serious heart palpitations when two of my loves combined in the J.Crew tumblr blog when THE Jenna Lyons listed mexican rebozos as one of her latest obsessions.

The rebozo is a traditional hand woven scarf that dates back to the colonial times. The exact origin is a little murky, but it is a piece that represents the blend of indigenous and european cultures and one that has spanned centuries and diverse social classes. My great grandmothers wore one everyday and had special "fancy" ones tucked in their closets for momentous occasions such as holidays and weddings. The everyday ones were usually made out of cotton blends and used as scarves, or most commonly to carry their babies. Basically they were the Baby Bjorn of their time (but you know without the yuppy connotations).

The special "fancy" ones were always made of silk and had more intricate patterns, especially on the fringe. A typical rebozo takes about a month to make, which means that the very elaborate ones can cost up to thousands of dollars. Which is why my dad's aunt (keeper of all of my great grandma's treasures) told me I could have some of the rebozos........only after she was no longer alive!

Needless to say I will be styling all of my rebozos this fall and winter and stocking up on my next trip to Mexico.

Posted on: Tuesday, October 29, 2013

One of the great things about living in Northern California is that you have access to some of the best attractions the state offers. Southern California might have Disneyland and slightly better weather, but we have the Napa Valley. Specifically, we have Yountville!Yountville is named after George C. Yount, one of the first settlers of the Napa Valley and whom many believe planted the first vineyard of the entire region. It has recently become somewhat of a "foodie" holy land with it's impressive lineup of restaurants, four of which have Michelin stars.
A few weekends ago we decided to have a little getaway to Napa, but with a small child winery hopping was just not in the cards. So Yountville was a great alternative. We strolled through the main street and made our way to Bouchon Bakery where we proceeded to indulge in giant macaroons, croissants, cream puffs, and the "Thomas Keller Oreo"
True love is sharing a pastry with my mini me on a gorgeous day in the Napa Valley.

If you ever visit here are some tips:

WHERE TO STAYBardessono - Come for the gorgeous energy efficient architecture, stay for the indulgent spa. Also, only a few steps away from world class restaurants.

WHAT TO EATBouchon Bistro - French dining by the master Thomas Kellerad hoc - Another Thomas Keller creation, menu changes daily and is price fixedBottega - Michael Chiarello's italian flavors with a hint of CaliforniaThe French Laundry - Among one of the top restaurants in the entire world (and another Thomas Keller gem). You must make reservations six months in advance (unless you are some sort of Kanye West and can pull some serious strings)

WHAT TO DOV Marketplace - boutiques, art galleries, chocolate shops.The French Laundry Gardens - stroll past the restaurant and cross the street to their private gardens. It is beautiful and we loved showing baby O where food comes from. Also, I didn't even realize there were so many varieties of kale and I even went to agriculture school!

Posted on: Monday, October 28, 2013

The transition to cooler temperatures and pumpkins (on everything) is one of my favorites of the year. By the time we actually experience a drop in temperature around these parts I am itching to bust out the boots and the layers. But I love that I can still get some use out of my summer pieces by changing some key elements. This white top was a summer favorite, but throw on some jeans and boots and you've got a great outfit to go pumpkin patching.

Posted on: Thursday, October 24, 2013

Finally cold enough here for some scarf love! I recently purchased this cobalt beauty from Nordstrom and it has been on constant repeat. For my first scarf outfit of the season, I paired it with dark skinnies, black cardigan and grey heels. Since the color is so vivid, I wanted it to stand out against the dark background. It was the perfect outfit for sitting by the fire with a glass of wine on date night with my husband.

Posted on: Monday, October 7, 2013

Put your hoe down, it's a hoes down!

This weekend we went to the 26th Annual Full Belly Farm Hoes Down with some of our best friends and we loved it. I learned that a hoes down is when the farm workers take a break from the harvest season (or...put their hoes down) and celebrate fall with beer, food and music.

My little baby O had her heart full with all the goodies she got to try and see. She loved all the carved jack o lanterns that line the entrance to the festival and she danced so much with her daddy she was asleep before we even got out of the parking lot.

If you ever want to know what a farm party looks like with gourmet burgers, fancy beer, hay rides, (and even a circus!) then come on down to the Capay Valley next year and put your hoes down (or laptops/cell phones) for the hoedown.